Photo: Groundbreaking at The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Happy Valley
Sporadic showers could not dampen the optimism in the air as around 100 people gathered at the construction site of The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Happy Valley in Walker County, Georgia.
The Lantern’s public groundbreaking on Tuesday, May 27, was a true celebration of what has been accomplished so far on the senior living campus, and the next phase that is being built to meet the needs of families needing care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Next door to Morning Pointe at Happy Valley Assisted Living and Memory Care, land is being prepared for the new all-memory care community, which is expected to open in early 2026.
Celebration of a New Chapter for Happy Valley
After introductory remarks from Morning Pointe Senior Living Co-Founder and CEO Franklin Farrow, local connections were highlighted. MaryBeth Wells from Mission Glen Baptist Church gave the invocation, the Ridgeland High School Choir performed the opening song and the school’s JROTC led out in a flag ceremony and pledge of allegiance.
Local connections were the theme as Morning Pointe Senior Living Co-Founder and President Greg A. Vital took the podium and shared about the Happy Valley development project, the scope, history and impact on the local area. The campus is part of an overall redevelopment of the historic 300-acre Happy Valley Farms. The Happy Valley farm and estate were established in 1935 by John L. Hutcheson, Jr., and were the site of an award-winning Jersey cattle and dairy farm before Hutcheson transitioned the property into a world-class American Saddlebred horse-breeding facility.
Upon the death of Marion “Bit” Hutcheson, Vital took an interest in the property’s legacy and acquired it from the heirs.
“Happy Valley has become a special place to me,” Vital said. “It’s been an exciting opportunity to regenerate the unique story of this property and this land and the Hutcheson legacy. We’re making a big difference in this community.”
Vital shared some statistics about the economic impact of The Lantern. The new community, located at 2937 Happy Valley Road, will bring 45-60 new jobs to the area, contributing an estimated more than $25 million annually through local partnerships, payroll and the purchase of goods and services.
Other participants and special guests in the groundbreaking included Allyson Ford, president of the Walker County Chamber of Commerce; Angie Teems, Chair of the Walker County Board of Commissioners; Mike Cameron, Georgia State Representative from District 1; and several Happy Valley Farms representatives, who shared exciting plans for other portions of the property. Local guitarist Wesley Crider provided live music while guests arrived and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres.
Greg A. Vital closed out the formal program saying, “We’re growing things in Walker County.”
Responding to Local Need
“This new facility helps address the growing need to expand care and housing options for our seniors in North Georgia,” said Angie Teems. “Increased access to quality senior living facilities can make a significant difference in the wellbeing of aged adults and their families. Having services like this nearby will help eliminate barriers such as location and time traveled that might otherwise prevent families from being connected with their loved ones. It will also keep our residents tied to the community where they live and have grown up.”
Franklin Farrow added, “When we saw how quickly families were drawn to this community as a resource for their loved ones, Greg and I knew it was time to expand to be able to serve more seniors and their families right here in North Georgia.”
As the overall population ages, the need for memory care is continuing to grow in the region. Phase II of the campus will offer a broader continuum of care for seniors with varying needs. When The Lantern opens, the current building (Phase I) will transition to all assisted living.
The Lantern will be a single-level building with 60 apartments encompassing two distinct levels of care, expanding the model of care on site. These are Lamplight—a large area for residents with early-stage Alzheimer’s and dementia who are more active—and Lantern, a more intimate and quiet space designed for more advanced stages. Care staff will be specially trained on the different stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia and how to care for each resident’s needs with compassion and comfort.
Programming will include a variety of life enrichment. Residents will benefit from Morning Pointe’s Farm to Table dining program with local, farm-fresh and seasonal ingredients. And memory care specific offerings will include the Best Friends™ Approach, Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach™ to Care, Meaningful Day™ purposeful programming, music therapy, art therapy and cuddle therapy.
Other Services and Amenities at The Lantern
Services and amenities at The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Happy Valley will also include:
- Licensed nurses providing oversight of health, wellness and medication management
- Single-level living
- Licensed, clinical or care staff available 24 hours a day
- 24-hour personalized care services
- Periodic check-ins
- Personal grooming assistance, such as bathing or getting dressed
- Assistance with transferring to a bed or chair
- Escorting to meals and events
- Incontinence management
- On-site occupational, physical and speech therapy
About Morning Pointe
The Lantern at Morning Pointe at Happy Valley will be the 43rd Morning Pointe Senior Living community and the third in Georgia.
Founded in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital (president) and J. Franklin Farrow (CEO), Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five states. In addition to the Happy Valley campus, Morning Pointe operates Morning Pointe of Calhoun Assisted Living and Memory Care in Georgia. For more information about Morning Pointe Senior Living or the Happy Valley campus, visit morningpointe.com.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide nursing scholarships and caregiver support. For more information, visit morningpointefoundation.com.
